Sacred Marriage

What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy?

By: Gary Thomas

Narrated by: Gary Thomas

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

What if God designed marriage to make you holy instead of happy? What if your relationship isn't as much about you and your spouse as it is about you and God?

In Sacred Marriage, best-selling author Gary Thomas uncovers the ways that your marriage can become a doorway to a closer walk with God and with each other. Join over one million others who have already uncovered Thomas's tips for fostering a sacred marriage.

Within the sections of Sacred Marriage, Thomas invites you to see how God can use your relationship with your spouse as a discipline and a motivation to love God more and reflect more of the character of his Son.

In addition to life-changing insights from scripture, church history, and time-tested wisdom from Christian classics, you'll find practical advice and techniques to make your marriage happier by becoming holier husbands and wives.

In Sacred Marriage, Thomas will give you all of the tools you need to:

• Turn marital struggles into spiritual and personal appreciation
• Love your spouse with a stronger sense of purpose
• Confront your weaknesses and sin in order to grow your relationship with God and with your spouse
• Partner in the spiritual growth and character formation of your spouse
• Transform a tired marriage into a relationship filled with awe and respect

Thomas reveals that sacred marriages teach us to love God and others well by fostering a healthy sex life, a strong prayer life, and a rich spiritual life. God uses our marriages to help us grow in character, in prayer, in worship, and in service - we just have to recognize that the purpose of marriage is holiness, not happiness.

Each copy also includes thought-provoking discussion questions designed to spark conversation between couples and small groups, allowing you to dive deeper into the lessons that Thomas shares in Sacred Marriage.

Join the one million others who have already started on their journey to transforming their relationship with their spouses and with their Creator.

©2016 Gary Thomas (P)2016 Zondervan

just when I wanted to give up

7 years ago when I decided to engage in an affair my best friend tried earnestly to convince me otherwise. unfortunately I went through the affair told my wife I didn't love her anymore and lost my marriage. later a few years went by my best friend recommended that I read sacred marriage and I never did. Now after 7 years I've heard the book while working. I can honestly say my life my thinking my heart has been transformed by the new revelation that I have received not through Gary but through God using Gary. I am happy to say that after being divorced for 4 years and three years separated my wife asked me to move back home. I now sport my wedding ring with pride as we are not completely back together but at least under the same roof working things out by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I must say Gary thank you your wife and all of those who collaborated with you in the writing of this precious and so needed book in every Christian home. I hope that someday I cannot only shake your hand but give you a big huge hug along with a holy kiss for your obedience to the highCalling of our Lord Jesus Christ to better and improve marriages throughout the world. I bought the book in Spanish for my wife and I can't wait to get home today to discuss it with her. Thank you so much and may God richly bless you and may you continue to do his good work .

Pretty good

while I really enjoyed this book, I felt that there were a few too many scolding comments about women gaining weight as being a really selfish thing, or sort of disrespectful to their husband. There was even a passage where a husband was watching porn and that was equated with the wife gaining weight. I really think that contributing to the porn industry is on a different level, especially when pregnancy, menopause or a thyroid problem could be the cause for a woman to gain weight. And in this book, the weight gain sin was always the WOMANS. There are plenty of really overweight men out there...haha. Weight gain in your spouse is not a free ticket to partake in an industry that treats women like objects...that is really hurting others....and on a huge level now with trafficking and such....The authors complaints about his wife wanting to watch a romantic movie were comical and childish. That's not cruel and unusual punishment. Its just not. Overall, the book was about being unselfish, forgiving and working as a team to honor God . AND I LOVED THE CHAPTER ON MARY TODD LINCOLN AND LINDBERGHS WIFE. Living with a difficult person causes you to grow. Nor should anyone expect perfection on earth, for iron sharpens iron. We should grow together@

Just what we need

This is just the book we need in our marriage right now. Such a great eye opener to how our marriage is meant to serve God and bring us closer to him. The author has such a great cadence to his voice and is truly enjoyable to listen to.

A permanent part of my library

I've read many of the comments prior to purchasing this audiobook and chose to purchase it. I listened 4 time already and while going through it myself, I found was the information was timeless, relevant and applicable in very practical terms in order to navigate the journey of marriage.

GREAT MESSAGE, GREAT TIMING

This is a must read for anybody who is or are thinking of tying the knot. As a young unmarried man I now feel more confident about me and my girlfriends future together.

Not an ideal audio

The audio is difficult for me... I have a really hard time following this narrator. I haven't made through more than a few chapters.

Not just for the married couples

It is important for us to begin to look at marriage from God's perspective. Marriage is to make us holy. I believe that there need to be more groups for singles so that the preparation and maturing can begin long before the engagement and subsequent vows being exchanged. There would be fewer marriages with fantasy expectations and but fewer divorces for "irreconcilable differences".

Good

Any additional comments?

Audiobook review: It is nice when authors narrate their own work, and this author does a very nice job. The central idea here, listed on the front of the book, cannot be overstated. The author clearly explains and illustrates the idea in the first half of the book, and once that is done the book trails off into "typical marriage book" themes (in my opinion). Totally worth the read/listen for the first half, though.

Amazing

I had this book recommended to me, and I'm so glad I got it. It's information is so useful and invigorating. I will be keeping this one on my phone and listening to it over and over again.

-AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY
#Audible20ReviewSweepstakesEntry

Best book I've read/listen to on marrige!

His approach is different from the usual marriage books! Marrige is here to make us Holy not Hapy! As a single person, I always struggled with the idea of how I would be able to serve God fully when Im married.. this book opened my eyes to how I can actually become a stronger Christian through marriage. Will definitely recommend.

Excellent Book

I've read a lot of marriage books, this is one of the best, Thankyou.

Fantastic book!

This marriage book is in a class of its own! I can truly say it’s a classic. I am not in full agreement with some of the theology but the it’s a well written perspective worth reading! The book is Brilliantly written appealing to the feeding both spirit and soul!

A must-have for Christians

Put aside his ministry and background, Thomas redefines Chrust-centred marriages and couples for the C21st. Useful tool.

A great book to read as a couple

Really interesting concepts in this book which triggered thoughtful discussions between me and my partner. As a young couple, it has helped bring us closer together and make our relationship more God-centred. We were definitely blessed by this book and would highly recommend it.

Really enjoyed this listen

As a young married Christian I still face some struggles in my relationship and this book really helped me find some wisdom on what God intended marriage to be. Highly recommended!

Not a marriage fix it book but a seek God 1st book

A really good read. Our marriage is in the thick of it right now. This is a great book, should have read it years ago.

How attractive is it when both spouses seek to out do each other in putting the other first. Seeking God, who provides all our needs and treating your wife as God's beloved daughter and your husband as God's beloved son.

This book helps you to see what marriage is really designed for, spoiler alert- it is not about you, and it is not even about being happy. Your marriage is about God, and our relationship is meant to be a reflection of God the Father's relationship with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

A great listen on Audible as it is read by the author.

Great book for couples AND singles!

Lots of insight, understanding (both of your self, God and your husband/wife and friendships in a whole).
It's changed my way of thinking and being, which I've noticed happen as I went through the book.
Great book for both married couples AND singles too!
This is my first book with Gary Thomas and surely not the last!! I already have "The Sacred Search" waiting on the table!

Absolutely incredible! Highly recommend this book!

This book is amazing, there are so many books that discuss Christian marriage out there but this is the first one I've come across that is brutally honest about what married couples can be thinking, and how we can so easily take up the wrong attitude or practise in our marriages. Glorifying God through marriage sounds like such a basic concept... Until you try it! This book will encourage you, challenge you and lead you into a closer relationship with God.

Really enjoyed the book

Great book. I really enjoyed reading it and the audio version made it easier to get through it as I could listen while doing chores. I Would definitely recommend it to others.

Transformational!!!

This book opened my eyes to many aspects of marriage which I'd never imagined and it also equipped me to truly have a sacred marriage! I was encouraged, blessed and convicted by the contents of this book.